Driving mechanism for amusement apparatus



Feb. 2, 1932 J. WHH'ELEY DRIVING MECHANISM FOR AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed April 6, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 2, 1932. .J. WHlTELEY DRIVING MECHANISM FOR AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed April 6, 1928 Fi a 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 wi e/77w? Q Wm;

I invention.

f ate ntecl Feb. 2, 1932 were stares PATENT OFFICE,

5 JAMES WHITELEY, OF NORTH TONAWANDA, NEW YORK DRIVING MECHANISM FOR AMUSEMENT AIPARATUS Application filed. Aprile, 1928. Serial in). 268,035.

This invention relates to driving mecha nism of a type designed and adapted specially for use in rotating amusement appara-- tus, although the invention may be usefully 5 applied to other purposes.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved driving or propelling mechanism for imparting rotary movements to a rotary amusement apparatus and which may be mounted upon the rotary part of the amuse ment apparatus or be mounted in a stationary position, as desired. .1

Another object of the invention is to pro vide-a driving orpropelling mechanism for an amusement apparatus comprising an endless track engaged by propelling wheels, whereby either the track and the support therefor or the propelling wheels and the support therefor may be rotated, as desired.

'20 Other objects will appear from the fol-,-

lowing descrlption, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a planview of a portion of an amusement apparatus embodying the present Fig.2 propelling wheels, portions of the supporting frame and drive shaft being in section.

Fig. 3 is an outer side elevation.

v, 3 Fig. 4c is a vertical cross sectional view approximately 011 the line H off- Fig 3-.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of an 3Cl1llSt2l-l0l support for the stationary frame.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional vlew line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

The driving or propelling mechanism herein shown is an improvement upon the driving or propelling mechanism disclosed in my application for patent for amusement apparatus,-filed December 24;; 1927, Serial No. 242,322 In the p r'esent instance, the nven tion is not restricted to an amusementappa ratus in which the propelling mechanism is mounted and carried by the part rotatively driven thereby. The propelling mechanism obviously may bemounted on a stationary support if. desired. V In the specific embodiment of the invention shown the central'frame. mast 1 is mounted on astationary-silpport 2. A hub 3 is reon the is an enlarged plan View of the providing strong frame. The machine I also comprises a circular track composed of an angle bar 6 having one flange extending horizontallyand the other flange extending vertically. This track is concentric with the mast 1. Each pair of angle" bars 4, or selccted pairs of said bars l, has a wheel or roller 7 operating upon horizontal flange of the track 6 Thus, if the frame comprising the bars .l retativc said frame is supported by the rollers Ton thestationary track 6. But it'isapparent that the frame comprising the angle bars {i maybe stationary and the track 6 may be rotative, in which latter case said track will be supported on the rollers 7.

A motor8 is mounted on a platform 9 supported byanglebars l, and this motor drives the propelling wheels which cooperate with the track 6 in the same Way,'whethe'r said track be rotative or whether the frame sup porting the motor is rotativc. The shaft- 10 of the motor 8 has on its outer end a beveled gear 11 (Fig. 4) meshing with the beveled gear 12 on the upper end of a shaft 13, the lower end of which shaft has a gear 14 rigid thereon. I

A channel bar 15 is supported between a pair of the bars 4. preferably parallel with the adjacent angle bar 5. A supporting nameplate 16 is attached to the channel bar 15 and the adjacent angle bar 5, said plates constituting su ports for the propelling wheels whi e-hare driven bythe gcar wheelie, The plates 16 support a pair of parallel shafts 17, on each of which a tubular shaft 18 is mounted for-longitudinal sliding move: merits between the plates 16. A pair of frame members 19are mcunted on the tubular shafts 18, one of said frame members 19 being rigid with both of said tubular shafts l8, and the other of said frame members he '95 ing. slidable on said tubular shafts toward and away from the adjacent frame member 19. A. rod 20' extends through both of the frame members :19 parallel with the shafts 17. An ar'cuate spring 21 has its-ends bear- 100 ing against one of the frame members 19 and its intermediate portion curving outwardly (Fig. This spring is preferably composed of a number of leaves, as shown. The rod 20 passes through said spring and has a threaded end on which a nut 22 is screwed. Thus the spring 21 and the rod 20 cooperates to. actuate the frames 19 toward each other, but the spring 21 will yield to per mit the frames to move apart.

The slidable frame 19 supports a pair of vertical spindles 2 on each of which a propelling wheel 25'is mounted for operation against one side of the vertical flange of the track 6 (Fig. f). The frame member 19 that is rigid on the tubular shafts 18 supports a pair of vertical spindles 26 having propelling wheels 27 attached thereto and arranged to operate against the opposite side ofthe vertical flange of the track 6 from the wheels 25. The upper end of each of these spindles 26 has a gear wheel 28 attached thereto, and said gear wheels 28 mesh with and are driven by the gear wheel 14. Thus, it will 1 be seen that both wheels28 are rotated in the same direction and that these driving wheels 25 and 27 automatically adjust themselves to any irregularities in the curvature or gidity of the supporting frame for the driving devices may be obtained by use of strengtheningbars 29 connecting intermedlate portions of the channel bar 15 with the adjacent angle bar 5.

The adjustable support for the stationary part of the amusement apparatus is shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the same comprising a pair of spaced angle bars 30 arranged to rest upon the ground or floor and from which links 31 form pivotal connection with radial frame ends of the links 33 are connected by a pivot bolt 35 extending transversely under the low"- er flanges of the angle bars 32. The bolt 35 passes through the eye of a bolt 36 which extends upwardly between the angle bars 32 and through a plate or washer 37 seated on the upper sides of the angle bars 32. A nut 38 screwed on the threaded end of theeye bolt 36 is adjustable to hold the upper ends of the links 33 in any desired relationship to the links 31 by clamping the plate or washer 37 stationary or rotative.

into engagement with the bars 32 so that said bars 32 are clamped between the bolt 35 and said washer or plate 37. When this clamp ing engagement is obtained spreading of the upper ends of the links 33 from the upper ends of the links 31 is prevented. Thus, by adjusting the upper ends of the links 33 toward or away from the upper ends of the links 31, the height at which the bars 32 are supported may be varied in order to obtain a level condition of the entire frame of which the bars 32 form a part.

In operation the motor 8 is started, thereby rotating the shaft 10 from which the gear 14 is driven. This gear 14:, meshing with both gears 28, rotates said gear 28 in the same direction thereby rotating the propelling wheels 27 which are held in clamping engagement with the track 6, whether said track be frame on which the motor 8 is mounted be held stationary and if the track 6 is rotative, said track will be rotated about the mast 1. And, if the track 6 be rigid and stationary and the frame on which the motor 8 is mounted be rotative about the mast 1, said frame on which the motor 8 is mounted will be rotated, because'of the cooperative engagement of the rollers 27 and the rollers 25 with opposite sides of the track 6.

It is possible that the track 6 may become 27 are held clamped against the opposite side i i of said track 6 with sufficient pressure to obtain the desired operation of the machine.

I am aware that the machine may be varied within equivalent limits without departure from the nature and principle thereof. I do not restrict myself unessentially, but what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an amusement apparatus, a support, a pair of parallel shafts mounted in said support, a tubular shaft mounted for sliding movements on each of said first shafts, a frame rigidly supported by said tubular shafts, a wheel rotative-ly supported by said frame, a frame mounted for sliding movements on said tubular shaft, a wheel rotatively supported by said second frame, a track, means for holding said wheels in position to clamp said'track between them, and mechanism for rotating one of said wheels. 7

2. In an amusement apparatus, a support,

' a pair of parallel shafts mounted in said support, a tubular shaft mounted for sliding movements on each of said first shafts, a frame r1g1dly supported by said'tubular Obvibusly, if the shafts, a pair of wheels rotatively supported by said frame, a frame mounted for sliding movements on said tubular shafts, a pair of wheels rotatively supported by said second frame, a track extending between said pairs of wheels, a device for holding said wheels in clamping engagement with said track, and mechanism for rotating another pair of said wheels.

3. In an amusement apparatus, a rigid supporting frame, a pair of frames mounted in said supporting frame for sliding movements toward and away from each other, rollers supported by said sliding frames respectively, a rod connecting said sliding frames, a spring on said rod for moving each of said sliding frames in accordance with. the sliding movements of the other, mechanism for rotating said rollers that are supported by one of said frames, and a track clampingly engaged between the rollers supported by said respective sliding frames.

4. In an amusement apparatus, a supporting frame, a pair of frames mounted in said supporting frame, means for supporting said pair of frames in said supporting frame for sliding movements toward and away from each other, a wheel supported by each frame of said pair of frames, a rod connecting said pair of frames,'a springsupported by said rod and cooperating therewith to move each of said pair of frames in accordance with the sliding movements of the other, and a track clampingly engaged between said wheels.

5. In an amusement apparatus, a support, a pair of shafts mounted for sliding movements in said support, a frame rigidly supported by said shafts, a wheel rotatively supported by said frame, a sliding frame mounted for sliding movements on said shafts, a wheel rotatively supported by said sliding frame, a track extending between said wheels, a rod connecting said two frames, a spring mounted on said rod and cooperating therewith to actuate said two frames toward each other, and mechanism for rotating one of said Wheels".

JAMES WHITELEY. 

